Bi-directional one-way clutch

Abstract

A radial, bi-directional overrunning clutch is provided that supplies on-demand power to, for example, the front wheels of a vehicle, while allowing the front wheels to overspeed the rear wheels. The clutch comprises a driving member having a plurality of radially-outwardly-biased pawls, a reversing ring, a driven member having a plurality of notches, and a housing having a plurality of pawls. The pawls on the driving member engage outwardly concentric notches on the driven member, and are activated and deactivated by inner reversing cams of the reversing ring. The pawls in the housing engage notches in the outer surface of the reversing ring, which causes the reversing ring to move between a first position and second position relative to the driving member. The engagement of the housing pawls with the reversing ring notches is regulated by the driving member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly, comprising: 
       a driving member with first and second sets of radially-outwardly-biased pawls, the sets of driving member pawls each having at least one pawl, the driving member being rotatable in a first direction and a second direction;  
       a reversing ring radially outward of the driving member pawls;  
       a driven member having notches that are radially outward of the driving member pawls, the notches being selectively engagable with the driving member pawls; and  
       a housing at least partially containing the driving member, reversing ring, and driven member,  
       wherein the reversing ring is rotatable a limited number of degrees relative to the driving member between a first position and a second position,  
       means, at least partially carried by the housing, for actuating the rotation of the reversing ring relative to the driving member,  
       when the reversing ring is in the first position, the first set of driving member pawls is activated and the second set of driving member pawls is deactivated, at least one pawl of the first set of driving member pawls engaging one of the notches in the driven member when the driving member overspeeds the driven member in the first direction of rotation,  
       and when the reversing ring is in the second position, the second set of driving member pawls is activated and the first set of driving member pawls is deactivated, at least one pawl of the second set of driving member pawls engaging one of the notches in the driven member when the driving member overspeeds the driven member in the second direction of rotation.  
     
     
       2. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation limiter limiting the rotation of the reversing ring relative to the driving member. 
     
     
       3. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation limiter comprises at least one closed-ended groove that receives a projection. 
     
     
       4. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation limiter comprises at least one groove in the driving member that receives a projection from the reversing ring. 
     
     
       5. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, 
       the means, at least partially carried by the housing, for actuating the rotation of the reversing ring relative to the driving member comprises opposing sets of radially-inwardly-biased pawls operably attached to the housing, each set of housing pawls having at least one pawl, the housing pawls being radially outward of an outer edge of the reversing ring and an outer edge of the driving member.  
     
     
       6. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the outer edge of the reversing ring further comprises a plurality of notches, the reversing ring notches being selectively engagable with the housing pawls to rotate the reversing ring relative to the driving member between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       7. The radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the outer edge of the driving member that is radially inward of the housing pawls further comprises a plurality of indentations and camming surfaces, the plurality of indentations and camming surfaces being adapted to selectively engage and disengage the housing pawls from the reversing ring notches. 
     
     
       8. A radial bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly, comprising: 
       a longitudinally extending driving member, the driving member having a front end, a rear end, and a radially-extending shoulder having a radially outward edge, the driving member being rotatable about an axis and comprising:  
       a plurality of indentations and camming surfaces on the radially outward edge of the shoulder; and,  
       opposing sets of radially-outwardly-biased pawls spaced forwardly and radially inwardly of the shoulder, each set of driving member pawls having at least one pawl;  
       a reversing ring forwardly adjacent to the shoulder, the reversing ring having a plurality of indentations and reversing cams on an inner edge and a plurality of notches in an outer edge; and,  
       a housing, the housing having opposing sets of pawls that are selectively engagable with the notches in the outer edge of the reversing ring, each set of housing pawls having at least one pawl; and  
       a driven member coaxial with the driving member, the driven member having a front end and a rear end, the rear end of the driven member being outwardly concentric to the front end of the driving member, the driven member having a plurality of notches that are outwardly concentric to the driving member pawls,  
       wherein the reversing ring is rotatable relative to the driving member between a first position and a second position,  
       when the reversing ring is in the first position, the reversing ring indentations are aligned with the first set of driving member pawls, and  
       when the reversing ring is in the second position, the reversing ring indentations are aligned with the second set of driving member pawls.  
     
     
       9. A bi-directional overrunning clutch, comprising: 
       a housing, the housing having opposing sets of radially-inwardly-biased pawls;  
       a driving member shaft having a rearward end, a forward end, a radially-extending shoulder spaced from the forward end, and opposing sets of radially-outwardly-biased pawls spaced forwardly of the shoulder, each set comprising at least one pawl;  
       a reversing ring forwardly adjacent to the shoulder, the reversing ring having a plurality of indentations and reversing cams on an inner edge and a plurality of notches on an outer edge; and,  
       a driven member shaft coaxial with the driving member shaft, the driven member shaft having a rearward end and a forward end, the rearward end being forwardly adjacent to the reversing ring and having a plurality of notches selectively engageable with the driving member pawls.  
     
     
       10. The bi-directional overunning clutch as recited in  claim 9 , wherein an outer edge of the driving member shoulder and an outer edge of the reversing ring are radially inward of the housing pawls. 
     
     
       11. The bi-directional overrunning clutch as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the inner edge of the reversing ring and the driven member notches are radially outward of the driving member pawls. 
     
     
       12. The bi-directional overrunning clutch as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reversing ring is rotatable a limited number of degrees relative to the driving member between a first position and a second position, 
       when the reversing ring is in the first position, the reversing ring indentations are aligned with the first set of driving member pawls, and  
       when the reversing ring is in the second position, the reversing ring indentations are aligned with the second set of driving member pawls.  
     
     
       13. The bi-directional overrunning clutch as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the reversing ring rotates between the first position and the second position when the driving member changes its direction of rotation.